'Real Housewives' Tired of Being 'Used' By Bravo

If you think being the star of a hit TV series with millions of viewers will make you rich, think again. Just ask the ladies of Bravo's 'Real Housewives' franchise.

"All the ladies have had enough of being used by Bravo and plan to start fighting back," a friend of one 'Housewife' tells me. "They are pissed that they only get paid $3,000 to tape each episode and are furious that they get paid nothing to tape the reunion episode. It's two full days of their lives with no lunch breaks and no pay. Everyone on the set is getting a paycheck except the stars. How can that be right?"

And it's not just the reunion shows that Bravo has added to the ladies taping schedule with no extra pay. Last week, executives decided that in order to breathe new life into its troubled 'Project Runway' parrot, 'The Fashion Show,' the 'Housewives' from New Jersey should make an appearance.

"None of the housewives wanted to be on 'The Fashion Show,'" one insider tells me. "However, the network insisted they film all week for hours and hours, and to add insult to injury, they got nothing in return. Not even a thank you."

However, the ladies have decided to fight back. First, the 'Housewives of Atlanta' took a stand -- getting together before taping their reunion show and all agreeing not to fight unless they got paid. It didn't work for them, but the resulting snore-fest made Bravo change its mind when it came to taping the New York reunion.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that the New York ladies showed up to duke it out and then delivered," a source close to production tells me. "Tell me Bethenny dragged her ass to the filming days after giving birth for free. No way. Bravo got so much from them. They turned it into a three-episode special and got their highest ratings for the New York series ever. So paying those girls was well worth it."

Now, with the New Jersey reunion taping today and tomorrow in Atlantic City, let's hope Bravo opened up its checkbook, because as one Garden State 'Housewife' explains to me, "Working for them is like slave labor. They might be able to make us show up, but if they want us to put on a show they better pony up the cash."

After watching one episode of RHNY last year, I realized that Bravo has absolutely no idea what a real housewife in this country is. These women and their lifestyles are as far removed from the majority of the "real housewives" as night from day. I would much rather watch someone dealing with the same everyday problems and concerns that I have and maybe get some inspiration than watch these self-absorbed reality star wannabees.

Bravo should be ashamed! This is an example of greed and it just keeps getting more greedy. Pay those girls! They make you alot of money! Be careful girls..They just might start to outsource your jobs and then start filming a bunch of foreign women that don't speak english.

Aren't these people lucky to have jobs? This whole reality TV thing is a scam on the gullible American public in the first place. The producers make the same money, yet spend almost nothing pretending "nobodies" are TV stars.

Maybe this will finally get these useless shows off the air. I think they are disgusting and ignorant.I think the satellite tv providers should refund us for this channel. Its programming is terrible and not what the network was intended to be.

WOW It seems to me from watching these woman that they are not in need of any more money.They need to also rember this has brought them book deals,Bethanny Getting a show,etc.The one thing I do agree that Bravo is paying them hardly nothing when Bravo is making a killing off these trashy shows.If they dont like making 3 grand a show then quit,dont expect that this show is a career as if you are famous.LOL I love the fact the *Countess* or whatever she was called was divorced because she thought she thought she was something.The New Jersey wives are all trash and need to stop thinking they are mobsters.After Orange County went off the whole whole thing went to crap-

Bethenny is the only one in the entire franchise with any marketable talent or skill. He books are awesome, and her show is actually fun to watch. As for those who want to see "regular housewives" featured, most of us can see that in our own homes or in the homes of friends & family.

I'm sick of all these shows about "rich people" and all their "problems"! All the whining about who called who what name and who lied on this person or that person. Is that the best you can do? What about a show about real people? Yeah, real people struggling to make it in this horrible economy. I'm sick of all the "My house was 5.6 million dollars", and "Let's go to St. Barts"...blah, blah, blah blah blah. And where are the pretty women on these shows? Could Kim Z.'s and hair look any more fake? Could Danielle Staub be anymore annoying? Could Bethenny's square jawline look any bigger? And why do most of the women on NYC Housewives seem like they need a valium? Especially the blonde chick. This is NOT real drama. Just a bunch of rich whiney women. And they don't deserve to get paid more. Just leave the show! Tehm maybe we can get back to REAL tv!